Thursday, August 21, 2008

RENO, Nev. (AP) - Washoe Valley residents are resting a little easier today after animal control officers captured a pair of black leopards on the loose south of Reno.

Washoe County Regional Animal Services originally responded to a call about a large black dog on the roof of a home in the valley east of Washoe Lake. When they got there, they found not a dog, but a leopard on the roof. As they were preparing a tranquilizer gun, they found a second cat there. Both were put to sleep and transported to animal services.

State Wildlife Department spokesman Edwin Lyngar says the cats are exotic pets that apparently escaped from the home of their owner. The owner's name has not been released, but has come forward to claim the animals.

They're being held until the owner builds an improved enclosure and secures all the necessary permits.

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